Guide track system for a drilling rig floor robot

ABSTRACT

A guide track system is provided for a drilling rig floor robot. The system consists of a drilling floor insert having a rotary table and floor robot guide tracks disposed within the insert beneath its top surface. Spaced-apart parallel slots traverse the top surface from an edge of the insert substantially towards the rotary table. The floor robot is supported by a support member having support legs that extend downwardly through the slots into the insert to glidably couple with the guide tracks. Hydraulic rams disposed within the insert are used to move the floor robot along the guide tracks to and from the rotary table. The guide tracks are protected from drilling fluid and debris released onto the drilling rig floor as sections of drill pipe are tripped out of a drill string.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to guide track systems for automated floorrobots used on drilling rigs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The concept of drilling rig floor robots “power tongs” or “ironroughnecks” is not new. Numerous examples of such devices exist in theprior art. It is known that floor robots roll on the top surface of thedrilling rig floor, typically on rails or tracks.

The problem with floor robots that roll on rails, tracks or recesseslocated on top of the drilling rig floor is that the rails, tracks orrecesses are exposed to drilling fluid and/or debris that may foul therails, tracks or recesses. When drilling pipe is tripped out of a drillstring, drilling fluid is usually contained within the section of pipebeing removed. When a section of pipe is disconnected from the drillstring, the column of fluid contained within the pipe will drain out andonto the drilling rig floor. The drilling fluid may also contain debrisor solid particles. As the drilling fluid drains onto the floor, anydebris in the drilling fluid can prevent the floor robot from movingback and forth easily on the track system. In more extreme situations,the floor robot may become misaligned in its tracks and will not line upproperly with the drill string to make or break joints between sectionsof pipe.

It is, therefore, desirable to have a guide track system for a floorrobot that is not exposed to drilling fluid draining from sections ofdrilling pipe as they are tripped out of a drill string.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention involves a guide track systemfor a drilling rig floor robot where the guide track system is locatedbeneath the top surface of the drilling rig floor. By locating the guidetrack system in this manner, the guide track system is not exposed todrilling fluid spilled onto the rig floor when sections of pipe aretripped out of the drill string.

In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, guide tracks arelocated underneath the drilling rig floor. In such an illustrativeembodiment, the present invention may comprise a modular insert that ismounted on the drilling rig. The insert comprises a rotary table havinga vertical opening through which the drill string extends therethrough.Two spaced-apart parallel slots traverse the top surface of the insertfrom an edge of the insert at least partially towards the rotary table.The floor robot is mounted upon a support member having a pair ofspaced-apart legs that extend downwardly into the parallel slots. Theguide tracks themselves are offset horizontally from the parallel slotswithin the insert. In an illustrative embodiment, the guide tracks arespaced further apart than the legs of the support member.

The insert further comprises passageways that connect each of the slotsto the guide track nearest the slot. Each leg of the support member isshaped to extend through a passageway to glidably couple with a guidetrack. Each leg will have at least two or more wheels rotatably attachedthereupon, the wheels adapted to roll along the guide track. To move thefloor robot along the guide tracks, at least one hydraulic ram isdisposed within the insert coupling the support member to the insert.The floor robot will move towards or away from the rotary table as thehydraulic ram is operated.

By providing a guide track system in accordance with the presentinvention, the guide wheels and guide tracks are sheltered from anydrilling fluid spilled onto the drilling rig floor when sections ofdrill pipe are tripped out of a drill string. The insert furthercomprises drain slots positioned about the perimeter of the top surfaceof the insert that lead to a drain trough that further exits from theinsert. These slots will capture much of the fluid spilt onto thedrilling rig floor. The insert further comprises drainage openings onits bottom surface below the slots. Any drilling fluid that is spiltinto the slots will exit from the insert through the bottom openings toa sump located below the drilling rig.

Broadly stated, one embodiment of the present invention comprises aguide track system for an automated drilling rig floor robot, comprisinga drilling rig platform insert adapted to be mounted on a drilling rig,said insert having substantially horizontal top and bottom surfaces,said insert further comprising a vertical opening adapted to allow to adrill string to pass through said insert; at least one guide track meansoperatively disposed within said insert between said top and bottomsurfaces; at least one linear guide slot traversing at least partiallyalong said top surface from an edge of said insert substantially towardssaid vertical opening; at least one passageway disposed within saidinsert providing communication between said at least one guide slot tosaid at least one guide track means; a floor robot support memberadapted to support said floor robot, said support member extendingdownwardly from said floor robot, said support member adapted to passthrough said at least one guide slot and said at least one passageway toglidably couple with said at least one guide track means; and motivemeans operatively disposed within said insert, said motive means adaptedto move said support member along said at least one guide track meanswhereby said floor robot is capable of moving towards and away from saidvertical opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view depicting an insert in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention in which a floor robot islocated away from a rotary table.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view depicting the insert of FIG. 1 inwhich the floor robot is located above the rotary table.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view depicting the insert of FIG. 1 whereina side panel and the rear panel are removed from the drilling riginsert.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view depicting the insert of FIG. 1 wherein thebottom panel is removed from the drilling rig insert.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view depicting a portion of the insert ofFIG. 1 in which the floor robot is mounted on the support member.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view depicting the insert of FIG. 1 whereinthe rear panel is removed from the drilling rig insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an insert 10 can include a floor robot 12, atop surface 14 and a rotary table 24. Vertical opening 26 extendsthrough rotary table 24 to allow drilling pipe (not shown) to extendtherethrough. Insert 10 is a six-sided parallelepiped structure havingan internal structural frame and panels covering each of its top, bottomand side surfaces assembled together using materials in a mannersuitable for use on a drilling rig as known to those skilled in the art.For the purposes of this specification, insert 10 may be a stand-aloneunit that can be installed on a drilling rig (not shown) such that topsurface 14 is flush with the drilling rig floor or it may be integrallyformed as part of a drilling rig.

Insert 10 further comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel slots 20that traverse top surface 14 from an edge of insert 10 at leastpartially towards rotary table 24. Floor robot 12 is mounted on top ofsupport member 16. Support member 16 comprises a pair of spaced-apartlegs 32 that extend downwardly into slots 20.

In FIG. 1, floor robot 12 is positioned away from rotary table 24. Thisis a position typically taken by floor robot 12 during drillingoperations or when a drill string (not shown) is being raised or loweredthrough vertical opening 26. In FIG. 2, floor robot 12 is positionedabove rotary table 24 where it can make or break joints between sectionsof pipe as known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 3, insert 10 is shown with a side panel and the endpanel removed. Support legs 32 of support member 16 extend downwardlythrough slots 20 and passageways 36 to glidably couple with guide tracks30. Extending around the perimeter of slots 20 and upwardly from topsurface 14 are mud fences 22. Mud fences 22 prevent drilling fluid fromrunning down slots 20.

Guide tracks 30 are disposed within insert 10 between top surface 14 andbottom surface 38. Guide tracks 30 can run from the rear end of insert10 towards the front end of insert 10. Each guide track 30 comprisesupper and lower guide rails 31 a and 31 b. In this example, guide rails31 are triangular in cross-section although other cross-sectional shapesmay be used as known to those skilled in the art. Each support leg 32has a wheel support 33. Each wheel support 33 has a plurality of guidewheels 34 that are rotatably mounted thereupon. Guide wheels 34 can alsobe grooved about their circumference to ride upon guide rails 31 toimprove stability. For example, if guide rails 31 are triangular, thegrooves on guide wheels 34 can also be triangular. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, there are three wheels rotatably mounted on eachwheel support 33, the outer two wheels 34 riding on the lower rail ofguide rail 31 whereas the middle wheel 34 rides against the upper railof guide rail 31.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bottom view of insert 10 is shown with thebottom panel removed. In addition to the features described above,hydraulic rams 40 may be disposed within insert 10. One end of eachhydraulic ram 40 can be connected to an anchor block 44 whereas theother end can be coupled to support leg 32 with bolt 46. In operation ofthe depicted embodiment, floor robot 12 will move along slots 20 towardsrotary table 24 when hydraulic rams 40 are contracted. Conversely, floorrobot 12 will move away from rotary table 24 when hydraulic rams 40 areextended. Drainage openings 42 permit any drilling fluid that may enterinsert 10 through slots 20 to drain out of insert 10 to a sump or catchbasin (not shown) located beneath insert 10.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, support member 16 is more clearlyillustrated. In an illustrative embodiment, support legs 32 and wheelsupports 33 form a support member that is omega-shaped when viewed fromthe rear. When insert 10 is assembled, support member 16 slides intoinsert 10 from the rear such that support legs 32 enter in slots 20 andpassageways 36. In addition, guide wheels 34 are positioned betweenguide rails 31 as support member 16 is slid into insert 10.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications might be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding specificationhave been used herein as terms of description and not of limitation, andthere is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions ofexcluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portionsthereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is definedand limited only by the claims that follow.

1. A guide track system for a drilling rig floor robot, comprising: (a)a drilling rig platform insert adapted to be mounted on a drilling rig,said insert having substantially horizontal top and bottom surfaces,said insert further comprising a vertical opening adapted to allow adrill string to pass through said insert; (b) at least one guide trackmeans operatively disposed within said insert between said top andbottom surfaces; (c) at least one linear guide slot traversing at leastpartially along said top surface from an edge of said insertsubstantially towards said vertical opening; (d) at least one passagewaydisposed within said insert providing communication between said atleast one guide slot to said at least one guide track means; (e) a floorrobot support member adapted to support said floor robot, said supportmember extending downwardly from said floor robot, said support memberadapted to pass through said at least one guide slot and said at leastone passageway to glidably couple with said at least one guide trackmeans; and (f) motive means operatively disposed within said insert,said motive means adapted to move said support member along said atleast one guide track means whereby said floor robot is capable ofmoving towards and away from said vertical opening.
 2. The system as setforth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said at least one guide slot comprises apair of spaced-apart parallel linear guide slots; (b) said at least oneguide track means comprises a pair of guide track means operativelydisposed within said insert; (c) said at least one passageway comprisesa first passageway providing communication between one of said pair ofguide slots and one of said pair of guide track means and a secondpassageway providing communication between the other of said pair ofguide slots and the other of said guide track means; and (d) saidsupport member comprises a pair of support legs, one support leg adaptedto pass through one of said guide slots and said first passageway toglidably couple with one of said guide track means, and the othersupport leg adapted to pass through the other of said guide slots andsaid second passageway to glidably couple with the other of said guidetrack means.
 3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each saidguide track means comprises at least one guide rail and a plurality ofguide wheels adapted to roll along said at least one guide rail.
 4. Thesystem as set forth in claim 3 wherein each at least one guide rail isoperatively attached to said insert and said guide wheels are rotatablycoupled to each of said support legs whereby said guide wheels rollalong said guide rails when said floor robot moves towards or away fromsaid vertical opening.
 5. The system as set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid guide wheels are grooved about their circumference and adapted toride along said guide rails.
 6. The system as set forth in claim 2wherein said support legs of said support member form an omega-shapedmember.
 7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said motive meanscomprises at least one hydraulic ram operatively connecting said supportmember to said insert whereby said floor robot is able to move towardsand away from said vertical opening when said at least hydraulic ram isoperated.
 8. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said motivemeans comprises a pair of hydraulic rams operatively connecting saidsupport member to said insert.
 9. The system as set forth in claim 1wherein said at least one guide slot further comprises a mud fencedisposed at least partially along at least one edge of said guide slot,said mud fence extending above said top surface to provide at least apartial barrier against drilling fluid from entering said at least oneguide slot.
 10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said insertfurther comprises at least one drainage opening on said bottom surfacethat provides communication between said at least one passageway and asump located beneath said insert, said at least one drainage openingadapted to allow drilling fluid entering said at least one passagewaythrough at least one guide slot to drain out of said insert.
 11. Thesystem as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a drainage troughdisposed between said top and bottom surfaces of said insert, and aplurality of drainage slots located on said top surface havingcommunication with said trough whereby drilling fluid spilled on saidtop surface can drain through said slots to said trough, said troughadapted to guide said spilled drilling fluid away from said insert.